Method of mining coal.



E. C. MORGAN.

METHOD OF MINING UOAL.

APPLICATION FILED ammo. 1911.

Patented Nov.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. G. MORGAN. METHOD OF MINING GOAL. i APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1011.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

7 sums-sum 2.

E. G. MORGAN.

METHOD OF MINING 001m.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.30,1911.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

7 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

czzgm E. G. MORGAN.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

APPLICATION mum JAN. 30, 1911.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 4. fig/7'27 Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

ZZZ/2721673395) W E. 0. MORGAN. METHOD OF MINING COAL. APPLICATION TILED JAN. 30, 1911.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

'/ SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. C. MORGAN.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

APPLICATION F1LEDJAN.30,19H.

1,116,355. Patented Nov. 3, 1914 7. SHEETSSHBET 6.

E. C. MORGAN.

METHOD OF MINING GOAL.

APPLIGATIONTILED JAN. 30, 1011.

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EDMUND C. MORGAN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

Specification of letters l atent.

1,116,355. Original application filed August 4, 1905, Serial Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

No. 272,637. Divided and this application filed January so, 1911. Serial No. 605,355.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND C. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in hdmnbus, county of Franklin, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Mining Goal, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a method of mining coal or other material and one of its objects is to provide a method of mining coal by which the coal may be rapidly and ellieientl y broken away in large lumps. g A further object of the invention is to provide a method of mining coal whereby a dirty vein or vein of other objectionable substance running through the vein of materm] to be aimed may he readlly cut out 01' the vein of the desirable substance and con-. voycd away without becoming mixed with the latter.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafti-n', and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

It should be understood, however, that my improved method of minin coal may be performed by the use of di erent or varied l machines or devices, or with apparatus varied from that herein shown.

In'carrying out my improved method I prefer to use that type of mining machine which is supported on tracks or ways and driven into the drift or tunnel by suitable power usually mounted .upon the'machlne itself, and serving at the same tune as means for operating thecutters or mining tools. The coal or other material to be mined is cut into slabs in the face of the drift or wall at the end of the tunnelin such a manner that they may be readily broken down and transfiwred to the rear or to whatever place desired. lhe kerfs or channels in the wall of the tunnel necessary for .producing these slabs may first be out and. then the slabs wedged apart, causing the main body of coal or of other. material being mined to be broken from the main body.

, ()r at thcsame time that the cutting-opertunnel.

ation is being performed the slabs may be wcdgcd apart to break down the coal as the cutter m hu'mccs farther into the wall of the Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of a mining machine with which my invention may bo carried out; Fig. 2 is a view mostly in verti val sec-- lieu thereof and partly in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a plan section thereof; Fig. 4 is a detail "transverse section of one of the sections of the way, showing also a portion of the truck or carriage and the traction gear ta ken longitudinally of the forward axle; Fig. 5 is a similar section taken longitudinally of the rear axle, showing the means for adjusting the frame; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modification of one of the spiders for carrying some of the cutters and slowing also means for tripping the cutter arms,the extensions (33 and being pivoted to the under sides of the arms 52, 52 instead of the upper sides; Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the cutter arms and a portion of the cutter dovetailed therein. said section being taken on the line 77 clusive are sectional views of the channel in different stages formed in the wall of the oreio'r coal preparatory to the braiking' down operation; Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive are elevations of the tools which may he used effectively for producing these different stages of the main cut; Fig. 17 is a"seelional viewof the channel, showing the manner in which the slab is broken out after the final vcrticabcut: Fig. 18 is an elevation of the wedge which may be used for breakin down the coal; Fig. 18 is a similar view o l a half 'wcdge or a wedge having a single taper, which may be used for breaking down the coal Fig. 1!) is a vertical sectional view showing a mmliiication comprising full angle adjustment of the cutter spiders; Fig. 20 is a plan view thereof partly broken away; Fig. 21 is a further modification thereof; Fig. 22 is a modified form showing an automatic means for actuating the tripping mechanism for the cutter arms; Fig. 23 1s a vertical sectional view of Fig. 22 on the line 2323, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. .24 is a plan view of one of the spider arms and the cutter arm sup )orttoo.

fication in the means of: supporting and aetuating the cutters, and also showing an attachment comprising means for conducting mate iel remoreri from...

each other-1; so

.pported on the. boxes by 1 3.9, which i have screw-threaded in the ir lower ends stepped in rotetingjhese snoportee! by 7 be ofijus the rear i ,terlal bein showing the individual d. side well as the ing bit e, comparatively new number; mecti 01126 with eperpendicuhrr shaft 27, members. It shouldbe underst od,

ever, that in order to save time i the greeteet eiiiciency by -.;:t@ method the forward preferabi continuous. ffi'zerr opposite sides thereof a on 1 two horizontal shafts oitfi engaging bevelg'ehr should always be oi sniiicient' trons 6 pieced iforwertitroni t .catction gearfi; This shaft of stoppn heed line of the sectiov =3 6 are 8 extenciir 3 i lei with the elude the necess t T :1 lever 3- into nber on the "when desired the shaft 32- to the proper direction for the machine to rock for the engagement o into the tunnel.

screws 7o m mm the tiforworo axle 2 cu i out a the proper ageand illustrates n'ioC'neei on 9 Witi'i-the rock 8. 7t ing such substance from menu may be rotated for adjustterrain in -the enie i7 any suitable means, as for Referring to 1 it n or-m Wheels HG secured on to the .Ciesig n;itee the supoortin 1 cws l9 anti each hevingan rieg'e or truck, he, Win 21 mounted up'oii the ecije ee a track crwsty ceinprisng nnv suitable Way-Iris shown rails 4C, 5 ere formed ti. .1 i. i desired, these wornisnmy be short blocks or sections 5, whim iBijilGl by sprockets 22 and one in advance of another, es shots in i u, so that by rotation of either crank 2, and desired may have int. worms the twoscrews 19 maybe tongues 7 and grooves so that when noiy rotated for prcducinglthe' erly located with respect to eiici'i other l adjustment, the purpose of which is will constitute a continuous tree or i otting mechanism at the proper These sections are coinpretirei narrow for changing the giirectionto suit the 1 and short With respect to the ieng'thef run of the'vein, as will, he hereinafter detravel of therinechine, so that no the scribed, chine proceeds into the tunnel or A T treotion 9 derives its propelling sections whichthe'wheeis l, :2 hove'ieft power fromeny suitable source as for ex the rear may taken up and pieced in empie, n 1731c notor 25.1rnountedidire0tiy Vance of the Wheel in thus ten: '11 on the mziehinef qndf having bevel gear t; or the lower em} of which is secured I n engaging two Worm Wheels 29,

forming :1 pert of or 9 secured to the rorwerti axle one, 1 in"; is desired to/withdraw the znevthe propulfiion machine c 6.111, or reverse its direction of motion, the tonisoftheisections oi the vey are pro which is connected by a bevel gear with spurs 10 for preventing them 1 36 to bevel pinion 3'T'secured to the zixle 2L slipping-reorwzirti and if cieeireci this 16211 is connected with a Worm 29. i This is. ac: Ward motion may also be further gueriiel conpiishedby a similar means, namely, against by the employment of one or more clutch. member 38 which is spiineci on-the' jacks as shown in Fig; 8. These ja shaft 31 and adopted to engage a clutch prise two members l1, 12, having; chamber 39 secured to or formed on the threaded turn-buckle eonnections 7 Wong; 1 i 29, clutch member 38 being.

.. tied With a, shifting; iex er 40 for facili by constituting a means for :50

- 9' described operatibnd It will be member 12 against a ing let 0;? socke side oflone oi? the sections 6 unit 7. her 12 against the mail or" the t The forward bores 15 or formed on side members frame, as shown in exie-boxes 1i"- .o 1 8 in said sitie n e frame as shown i 28 will import a reverse ro- It Will be observed, that 200 and 201i Inasmuch nrough the vertical shaft that the rotation of the shaft clutches '35 and '39 are operating the traction 4 31 and 32 are free to rotate when the clutches 39 and 35 are thrown to releasing position. If the apparatus is on an incline there may be a tendency for the sameto move when it is intended that it should not do so. Furthermore when the cutters are 4 main frame, may be supported on the main frame in any suitable way. For example, the motor casing may be connected directly to the side members 16 in Fig. 1, while the shafts 31, 32 are journaled in cross-bars 41, d2, (Fig. 3); and for the purpose of carryi'ng the cutting mechanism and its power transn'iittinp devices, which will now be described, the frameis provided with longitudinal extensions 43, ll,9along the top and bottom thereof respectively and secured to the side members 1,6. J ournaled in the ends of these frame extensions 43, 4 1 is an up rightshaft 41.5, upon which are secured a plurality of hubs 46, 47, 4:8, constituting parts of the spider frames which support the cutters and breakers, as will be presently explained. (See Fig. Preferably the intermediate hubs 47, 47 are formed with rigid or integral arms 4%), four of which in this example of the machine for carrying out my improved method, are employed in each of said hubs, and alternating with the arms 4!) are shorter integral or rigid arms 50, 51, 52, 5213, as shown. in Fig. 3, while the hubs 4'0 and 48 at the upper and lower ends lCSPtKZtlVtl) of the upright shaft 45, shown "in Fig. 2, are l)l()\'i(l( \(l with flexible or hinged arms connected thereto by means of pivots 54, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as to be capable 0t rotating and oscillating in perpeinlicular planes or planes extending longitudinally of thcshaft 45, whenever its position may be such thatas arms turn. away from the face of the tunnel or entry they may be moved away from the top and bottom of suchcntry to prevent engaging therewith when the machine is tipped or adjusted on the front axle 2, as before. explained. The top series ol these hinged arms lower out of the way of the top of the tunnel-by gravity and are held in their horizontal. or operative position by a cam. 51- mounted upon the extension 4 3, while the lower series of these hinged arms .are thuscarricd by a hub 48 falling; into operative position by gravity and are lifted the hinged the arms 56 to away from the bottom of the tunnel by any, suitable cam 54', supported in any suitable way asby brackets G P-on the uppersides of the frame extension 44, as shownin Fig. 3. The arms of the lower series or those connected with the hub 48 are limited in their descending, movement by stops 54 of any suitable construction. There are two series of these hinged arms, a long series comprising arms 55, preferably four in numher, and a short series alternating with arms 55 and comprising arms 56, 57, 58, 59. In the outer ends'of the longer arms 49, 55 of all these spiders are mounted bits or cutters 60, of any appropriate form but preferably the bifurcated form shown in Fig. 13, which is adapted to produce the first cut or kerf (31, shown in Fig. 9. As the arms 49, 55 swing around on the shaft 45, the vein of coal or ore 62 which is left between the bifurcations of the cutter are broken down and crumble away as the cutter arms 49, 55

advance into the kerf. In practice this bifurcated form of the cutting; end of the cutter is best produced by the employment of two separate cutters, one in the upper and one in the lower side of the spider arm, and which separate cutters may be dovetailed in opposite sides of the spider arm as shown in Fig. 7, for plicity of construction, but the articular form of cutter is immaterial, so lbn as it is capable of producing a kcrf or c mind in the face of the wall of the tunnel or drift.

Preferably the shutter) is rotated a siifli- 100 eient number of times to carry the arms 49 and 55 with the cutters 60 into the wall to produce the kerfs at the top and bottom of the tunnel and at as many intermediate points between the are spiders 47 employed, and when a plurality of parallel slits or kerfs have been formed a suliicient distance into the wall of the tunnel, the other cutters forproducing the succeeding stages of the cut Figs. 10 to 12 and the breaker for wedging into the kerfs may then be brought into suecessive' operation, as will now be explained.

The arms 50 to 59 of the flexible or hinged spiders (which are the short arms inevcry instance), are provided with flexible extensions (S4, 6:), 66 respectively, which are" hinged to their tical pivots 07, whereby these extensions may be turned inwardly in horizontal planes toward the center of rotation of the spiders in order to carry the cutters or tools mounted in such extensions out of the way 1' of the faces of the tunnel while the cutters lit) are [)l'tltlllt'lllg the first cut. 'lhese llexiblc extensions are rigidly secured to their r pivot (37, and to the lower end of each of these pivots is rigidly secured two pro- 130 the sake ofistrength and simtop and bottom as there 1 5 shown in 53 of therigid spiders and respective arms by the \'er- 12o jcctions 68, 69, by means of which the flexible arms may be. roated with respect to the arms to which they are pivoted. This is done at'the will of the operator by pushing or pulling one of the handles 7O, 71,

tension 27 5 as the lever 7a is oscillated into the path or" the extensions 68,139, whereby one or the other of the pins 7 6, 77 will engage with one or the other of the'extension's 68, 69, and rotate the flexible arms to which said extensions are secured into positions either atan angle to the main arm of the spider as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawingf or into positions substantially straighter.

alined with such arm as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawing. lVhen p in'77 is raised the short extension 68 will be engaged and thereby'straighten out the flexible arm and cause the cutter thereon to enter the kerf and produce a portion of the lateral breaking groove 78', (see Fig. 12) formed in the opposed faces of the kerf. This first. one of these flexible arms to be thrown out from each of the spiders-.is the one carry ing the form of cutter 79, shown-in Fig. 1 1, for producing a portion of the breaking groove shown at 80 in Fig. 10. Thiscutter 7 9 like the cuttcr 60, may be formed in two pieces, and inserted, like the cutter 60, in opposite faces of its flexible carrying arm,

s'uch'tlexible arm being'the one marked 63, which immediately follows the short flexible J arm :39 of the topand bottom spiders and the short rigid arm of the intermediate spidersithat is to say, it is the first one of the short arms to enter the kerfall the long arms have gone around. As shown in Fig. let, cutters 79 are formed with angu- -lar or lateral extensions 79 which produce the portion 80 of the breakinggroove; One revolution of the cutters 79. in each kerf would ordinarily be sufficient to produce its allotted portion of the breaking groove 7 8, and consequently after the arm 63 has passed out of the kerf it may be thrown back into its angular position with respect to the spider arms by the operator imparting areverse movement to the handle 7 0 and in fact to all of the handles 70 to 7 3, one for each of the spiders, if it is desired to produce. the

breaking groove in. all of the kerfs. This movement of the tripping handle throws the pin or trip 76. upinto the path of the extensionfitl and returns the flexible arm into the position shown in Fig. 3,-the extension 68 passing between the pins 78, 77 at that h of the other handles 71 to 73 1e with a trapping mechtime.

in cl The rocking lever for the hand'e 'for the lever 8a are turned upward cut produced. by the extensions 79.

misses anism similar to trip pins 76, I o3;

l a hand rocking lever 74, one for each or t.

e spiders.

shown at 81 in Fig. 2 pivoted to tension 43 and its tripping lugs 82, rocking lever for the handle 72 is at Stand its pins at 85., 86, and if together with the one for the an.

handle 73 is pivoted to the extension at, the

latter lever being shown at 87 and trip- 9 nine and ping pins at 88, 89. The

seas to trip the flexible arms belonging the lower ofthe. two spiders ozt'wlnch the hubs 1:7, are parts, while the pins 539 are turned downwardly will. trip the flexible arms belonging to the l0"WtlHl0SlY lit will be observed that there is suihcient space for-an operator to reach the upwardlygoro- (spider of which $8 is the hub.

jecting handles of the rods 72 and 73 The same is truerwith respect to the rods 7 0 and 71 shown in- Fig. 1. Fnrthermore,- inasmuch as'these rods can be operated with the application of a slight amount of power, short operating rods may be used by the operator to pushthe rods 70, 71, 72 and 73 into proper 4 osition at any time desired.

The fiexib e arm 63 on all of thespiders having traversed their respective lrerfs and beingagain thrown back into the angular position with respect to their spider arms, as shown in Fig. 3, the next flexible arm 64: on each of the spiders is thrown out into operative. osition in a manner similar to i that descri ed with reference to the arm 63,

by the same tripping mechanism which op- Titltl erated upon the arm 63, and the additional 7 portiontO oi? the breaking groove or chan nel 78 is then produced by the angular extensions 91 of the cutters ried by the flexible arms 64:, the main di ence between the extensions Ell and the estensions 7 9 being one of length, so as to out the breaking .groovea little deeper than tlh e 'l e arms 64 having passed around or fully traversed the kerf, they in turn are thrown back again'into the position shown. in Fig. 3, while the tripping mechanism before de scribed and the next flexible arm in the its series are then projected in a similar manner to the operation of thosealready described by a proper manipulation'of the-tripping handles and the angular extensions 93 of the cutter r bit .94 will finish the, formation s ofthe breaking groove 7 8 by drawing the bottom or inner walls of the grooves in an apex or nearly so, as shown inllig, :12, so that the slab. of coal or other material will break more readily along a definite line when the breaking down 'w d kerf. It will be seen that b this method of operation large blocks of coal may broken away. "llfne pins and fit at ge enters the ran ed so as to stay where put on account of t ie friction of the parts connected therelug, one in the plane to.- It is t erefore evident that these pins may be left as shown at the of Fig. 2,, so that neither-one will project into the path of the arms 68 and 09.

The wedge which may be used'is shown at 95 in Figs. 1, 3, 17 and 18. It is carried by one of the flexible arms in each of the series such as the arm 66, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The flexible arm 06 is thrown outwardly into operative position so-tl at the wedge 95 may enter, the kerf in the same manner that the other flexible arms aret wtuatcd. The wedge, as better shown in Figs. 17 and. 18, is tapered in two directions; that is to say, in a direction lengthwise of the side spider arm which carries the flexible arm (36 when the flexible arm is in its extended or operin tivo position and also transversely of this direction with the narrower end of the wedge pointed in the direction of rotation so that the wedge will more readily enter the kcrf, and by gradually forcing the walls of the kerf apart, cause the slab of coal or other material to break down and fall out. If the wedge 95 be tapered both at the top and at the bottom it will effect the breaking of the top slab as well as the bottom one, as shown in Fig. 17, but whether it be pro vided with this double taper or not will depend upon the character of the material being mined, in some instances a single taper 95 as shown in Fig. 18 being sufficient where a wedge is employed in every alternate spider. .It should be observed that at the same time that the coal is being dislodged by the wedges entering the kerf, the cutting operation by the cutters 60 continues. 'lherefore during the operation of dislodg ing the coal two component forces are actof the out or kerf acting to cut the coal and the other component force working a t an angle to the plane of the kerf or out which is the wedging action, whereby the coal taneousl'y. Of course the wedges 95 may be held extended (b ing the cutting of the kerfs so that while the continuous cutting going on the coal is being intermittently broken down or dislodged. During such op eration the flexible arms 63, 64, could be retained in their initial or bent positions. In older to dislodge larger lumps of coal, howcicr, it is preferable to make the vertical cuts by extending the flexible arms 63, 64, (55 one after another, which may be done in a single rotation of the shaft 45 and also while the machine being fed forward and whi e the cutters (30 continue to cut the lccrts deepen Then when the wedges 95 are brought into operative position during the last part of the rotation of the shaft 45, large lumps of coal will be dislodged along the arc-shaped lines or vertical cuts produced by the cutters 79 lower portion niore shims 98 interposed and the frame extension 44. I: is cut and dislodged simul- 45 and the last of which is 91 and 93. Even when the cutters on the flexible arms 63 64 65, are brought into operation after a herf has been cut to the desired depth, it is preferable to continue the cutting by means of the cutters 60 while the entire machine is being fed forward, in order to save time. If it were attempted to stop the forward feed of the machine .it would be found difficult or impossible because of the considerable backward thrust of the shaft 32, holding the clutch member 33 in frictional engagement with the sleeve 35 with considerable force. It would be practicable, however, to stop the electric niotor so that this backward thrust will be relicved, and in some instances it would be necessary to reverse the motor before the clutch 323 could be thrown to inoperative position. Although the forward feed of the.

machine may thus be stopped so that the cutters (30 would not produce deeper kerfs or horizontal cuts in the wall of the coal, the wedge 95 may be thrown into operation at the time that the cutters 91 and 93 are still in operative position, the cutter 91 being about to leave the kerf and the cutter 93 having about 90" of the remaining travel in the kerf.

In order that may be adjusted vertically on the shaft 45 for cl'ianging the levels at which the cutters enter the wall, the shaft in the vicinity of the hubs of these spiders may be provided with a spline 95", overwvhich the hubs slide while being propelled thereby to rotate with the shaft, and the hubs are provided with set-screws 90, 97, or any other suitable means for holding them in their adjusted positions on 'the shaft. The vertical shaft 45 issu ported in its downward movement by tl f lower hub 4,7 taking its bearing on the frame extension 44, or directly upon one or between said hub Theshaft 45 isirot-ated by the motor 25 through any suitable train 0 gears 100,101, 102, the first of which is keyed to the shaft mounted loosely on the shaft 27, while the intermediate ear 101 is an idler mounted upon a stud siaft 103 secured in cross-bars 104 extending across the machine and connected to the side frame 16. The gear or pinion 102 constitutes one member of a clutch and is \'ided-on its lower face with clutch teeth 105 adapted to'engage with a companion memher 106 of said clutch which is connected by a spline 107 with the shaft- 27, and is supported by a shifting yoke 108 capable of throwing it into engagement with the clutch teeth 105 when it is desired to rotate the cutter shaft 45. 'lhis shifting yoke may 'be actuated at the will of the operator by means of a suitable handle 109.

to release the clutch 33.

the intermediate spiders nis 11% being connected to one ens I lodge the coal.

, means for. shifting the trips which thyme in the modification shown in 111, under which engage two shoes 112,

2O secured to the lower ends of a, v links 113 on diametrically opposite the hub l of the spider, the u" said links being i i branches of 01 ill wort-"115 =2 e and has 11 arm 16 co. with said yeliie heihore threaded rod 11? passing inrough an soot-- ineii'b 118 oh extension and csi'iyii. sdjushing hut 119 on the 0511-81 side of :ghe abutment.

in Fig. 21 esubstiiul'e for ie pivoteifl arms of the spiders st llp'jei? and lower ends of the shaft 45., i. shown. This consists in making the she 4:5 hollow or i viding it at one end e socket and insert a therein a short. n of e53 upon which the hub 126 of the spider is rigidly secured the shaft 425 being splined the soekeh and held iiis vertical edjustment; by av set-screw 121. in this form the spider ernis shown are illustrated as being adjustablelongitudinally Wi f h reference to their hub I26, zmd'lield in place b set-screws 123. This modi cation avoids the use of the cams and 434i" and hinged spider areas, he euse with this ieiigement the lower spider may be eleven;

e TF3? it away from the "ootioni oi? twine-i and the upper sph 1.3 ievveied eerry'it away from th top of the tun when the machine is 4 bricked should observed stir s used the L it 3 ii: T coril While i formed to id the "0.211 of eonl mpg 7 M is operation hilcmg f'plsee to dis 22 and 23 is SilOWll an automatic vice ii be en the seeserew phe v of the cam meshing eii shaft M be Q9 means are PIOVlCiGCl for edgustmg the spiders o :hei'e will course be as many as a a i a q n ira -1n' t 1 11 his the r. use, an A, we bier, My e1 e with as pinions 131 as there i-e crem The single example shown in "'S. 22 and 28 s sufficient, however, 01 the pm :oses pf illustration and. an understandoi this automatic device.

3. modification shown inF-ig. 24, e is illusti'afied for the flexible arms which carry the series of cutters idiicihg the breaking oove 78, and

carries 'che ores "1 i011 consists in slioing' 3 1e supv as h. lon i idineliy of the spider Q Which supports 1!), instead of deflecting "h supplemental on e vertical axis as Lone With she supplemental arms 63 to. 66. e ppiemeiital arm in "this modified form iiioieeted'ziiz 132, and has a shank 133 slidil. D m end of the spidei: arm the one repzed ihis figure being the arm 50. s ah the supplemental arm is pro- J. pin 01' lug 13 i engaging in slot the shifting lever 136 pivoted on the n 50, and so arranged as to be struck. by one or the other of the trip lugs 82, 83, which projected alternately down into the path the lever 136, as before described with "z eieiezioe to the projections '88, 69, the pin 83 serving to throw the supplemental arm 32 outwei'clly and the pin 82 acting to Withl'lii 1"? is shown 2), modification of the eree 'i ig Wedge, comprising a, bifurcated L W, which engages over the fin 62 edge of ihe her? and sustains e at its ouier end durii'ig the 0" eedgiiig OpGYZitlGIL The bifurcation so l: .30 reveni; binding; While the chi 18 being fed forward and the eatso continue to operate. When the form ellilflf; wedge shown in 18 is used, rd feed of the machine and the a}; as much as desired While 11g operzitien is taking place, ii; :rstood that the Wedge 95, shown n 18* eiieel'e the kerii leiei'aliy and ihe of e oii'oleW'ith iihe nar- "sce ef the wedgedforemost. This we understood from the various views Kno Wedge iii eleveiion on the spider arm, which is shown in section.

In Figs. 25 and 26 are shown the con- Fi'iffllflbiffil which. maybe used 'ifoi' carrying out the iieithod OIE'LFJBIMOViILg edirty vein ebjeet able sabre ii from the glesireble This KEOIISfiIHCtlOH OOIh pIlSGS e ion the cutters endiheir carry ll as an attachment foi- "1. wiizhouii permitting e we 01' coal. is shown s being :1 and at its lower o jPiCiGlS and euiwedge 9i.

:ihd particularly Fig. 18, Which shows the iiio ters as described with reference to Figs. 1 as before described. When the pin 83 is to 3, and one of the intermediate spiders 4 7 thrown downwardly it. engages one oi the 111 this view is also the same as the upper lugs l-lti at the inner side ot the seriesor intermediate spider in the aforesaid figures. next the shaft -l-"i, and that causes the disk But in lieu of the lower internwdiate spider H to turn forwardly or in the same direc are substituted two spiders of special form, tion in which it was rotating, thus carryingcomprising hubs 138 and arms 139. 'tl'icse its cutter into the recess 1-1.; and out of the spiders and their cutting mechanism are way of the wall. When the pin 82 is thrown the same in construction and hence the dedownwardly, however, the lugs 4 hi are en- Seription of one will answer for both, snflice gng'ed on the outer side of the series and 5 it; to say that they are reversed on the shaft this restores the d isks 'l-lt) to their former or 4:5 with respect: to each other. On the outer operative position. The trip lugs or pins end of each of the arms 139 is pivoted a disk 8:3, 83 are thus manipulated at the will of 140, which serves as a substitute for the the operator as required for successively flexible tool carrying arms or sumilemental throwing the tools carried by the various e arms ()3 to (56, or the sumilemental arm lib! disks l-lO into and out of their operative shown in Fig. 24. Four of these disks ll(J positions, or, if desired, su h nmnipulatiou are employed in this instance and adapted may be done autmnutieally by the constructo rotatoon their pivots Ht in planes subticn shown in Figs. 22 and 2; An adstantially parallel with the planes of rotavantage of this form of spider and cutting 14') tion of the spiders 138, the plane of mechanism is that the main disk H2 and the rotation of one of thespiders being also par smaller disks constitute together a platallel with that of that other. In the peform or rotating table on which to receive Qripheries of these disks Ht) are secured rethe material cut out and thrown down and 25 spectively the cutters 7!), 92 and 94 and the which rotation serves to conduct the maon breaker or wedge 9st". Secured rigidly to terial to the rear. In hig. "25 these two the shaft 45, so as to rotate therewith is a table-like cutters are illustrated as cutting large disk 142, the periphery of which is out what is called the dirty vein HT, which provided with circular openings 143, in occurs in coal mines and which may consist which the cutter disks 140 are situated and of ordinary dirt or soil, slate or other maa rotate, and this disk 149 is in substantially terial, the presence of which in the coal or the same plane as the disks-140 and carries substance being mined would be objectionin its unbroken periphery at as many points able. The material cut out from the wall between the openings 143 as desirable a by these table-likecutters and thrown down number of fixed cutters (i0, which as the thereon by the wedge or breaker or by any we disk 142 rotates produce a kerf the same in other means, is carried around with the form as the kerf (51 shown in Fig. 9. The lower, table or disk on which it rests until peripheries of the disks 14-0, shown in Figs. it strikes a deflector or shield 1 18 which ex- 25 and 26, being within the. circle of the petends partially around the edge of the lower riphery of the main disk 142, the smaller main disk H9 and u-rminales in a chute. or Ion disks 140 will not affect the cutting of the trough 149, and which may be supported in Wall except When the cutters mounted in the any suitable manner, as for instance by the periphery thereof are turned outwardly arm 148 on the arm H1. in this instance through the apertures 1-13. This rotation this shield 148 is ol sutlicicnt height to prac- Of the disks 140 for accomplishing that retically cross the space between the disks l-l), L10 suit is produced successively as the disk 142 so that all of the material carried -on the rotates in the same or substantially the same lower disk will strike against the shield and manner asthe supplemental arms (13 to (it; be linallydirecled into the chute 11! whence or 132 are thrown into active position. The it falls into the tunnel at one side at the arm 139 of each of the disks .l-lO has rigidly n'un-hine. If the lower disk 11; rotates llii secured to it in any suitable way a ratchet clockwise as viewed in Fig. :ze, assuming 144, and pivoted to the disk is a spring the left hand side to be the forward end of actuated pawl arranged to engage this the machine, the shield or deflector H8 ratchet for preventing the disk from makwould be located in what would be the right ing a rctri'igrade rotation as its cutting'tool hand side of lhe machine, while the chute engages the wallet the tunnel. .lhecutting 14$) would be located on the opposite or tool of the disk within the wall having left hand side, so that when the coal or valutraversed the kerf and performed its alable material is passed out on the right lotted function, however, the disk 140 is rohand-side by the other cutters or by the tated about one quarter turn in a, direction sweep of the bottom spider arms the dirty 125 away from its ratchet, when one of the senmterial will be thrown out on the opposit ries of lugs 146 of the disk 141) engages one side and kept separate from the material of the trip pins or lugs 82, 83, which may of value. x be thrown dowmvardly into the. path ol the The spiders 13H, lill are adjustable \cr -i 65 lugs 146 at the proper time by the operator, tieally on the shaft l3, so that the cutters 11:0

aerations to suitthe position in the :vein to he cut out, and'when so adjusted they rf'l he fixed in place by set-screws 150 or' any other su' ie devices. If desired, a collar 51 ma be fixed on the shaft 4:5,.loy a I ieath'the upper spider 138 csupport of the same.

by the cutters Z9 and 92 con- 1; e machine is being fed for i also evident that when the out the'cutting e uppermost spider, of the r and of the intermediate to. increase the depth of is or slits in the Wall of d, the Wedging member ivy he more to operative position iniand maintained in such position while are cuttingrhorisontal slits in f 1 ins and the cutters79, 92 9i rcpt out of operation. When this died of operation is carried out, the dirty in is immediately broken away piecemeal DlltllOlV removed. It may be preferred, h wever, in some instances to facilitate its in which event the Wedging performed until the horiheen cut the certain itters 79,- 92 and Q are into operation and brought into operative and dislodge the 'undesir ner heretofore explained may he used 1n carrying e hoc of mining coal. brought into ac-' the cutting 'of the after it has hcen cut to a c ident that the wedging elace only intermittently: e Wedge rotates and is only intermittently, 'c after the wedge engages which it breaks oh the cutters the. mat-rial must cuta deeper kerf before the Wedge again comes into engagement with thematerial to break it away. As before explained,

the .iaclrward'thrust on the clutch member 55 or" 1 .5 release and therefore the forw rd ced o'ifil e entire machine will 0on2 tinue, re the kerfs will be cut d e i'en 1 the Hedging; operation place. however, stopping the moit fora small space of on theclutchfi j may be can he released. set the shaft 45 may again proper direction and the by the cutters 79, 92 and be arranged at diiferwhen the breaking break away' the dirty Vein in L is described form of After mic-inst 94:, and the Wedging operation performed to break away the undesirable vein in large lumps and easil transferred to the desired place without producing much dust or fine particles.

Although the machine described for car-- rying out myimproved method produces a plurality of horizontal slits simultaneously the coal permitted to break off icy its own Weight. Y v

Fig. 27 illustrates a modified dirty vein cutter in that cutters 60 of greater depth 86 than the cutters 60 are used .atthe outer ends of the spider arms of the upper spiderei'. The cutters 60 in operation Will then cut awaythe dirty vein continuously and the dust and-small particles thus produced will 90 mingle with the large lumps of coal broken away by the other spider arm horizontal kerf cutters, vertical or cross cutters and wedges. Upon removal of the ,large lumps of coal with particles from the dirty'vein 96 mixed therewith the latter may be easily and quicklyremoved by screening. Ehis method may be preferred in some instances here simpler apparatus s. desirable Furthermore; time may'fofteibe saved by suhstitutce ing' cutters 60 of increased. depth for removable cutters 60' and adjusting the spider yer tically totheproper-position; It will alsohe noted that the corresponding arms of the 7 various spiders on the vertical shaft e5 needtot not be in, vertical alinement. They may in someinstances he so arranged that when the Wings are brought into action the slabs may beloroken at or near the vertical cross cuts by Wedgiiijg action, first on one side of the no slab of coal and then on the other. In such arrangement the arms carrying the Wedges are staggered. As before explained, the Wedges may be brought intoaction as soon as the cuttingof theplurality of parallel kerfs or slits 'begins and therefore at the same time that the parallel cuts are being made in the seam of the coal forces are brought td bear on the partially severed each cut is sub-divided intermittently-into three component forces, one component force working in the plane of the cut and the other two component forces Working at an. angle to the plane of the cuts and in 0 mosite directions, whereby the coal is dislo ged by intermittent forces thus applied. This method of mining coal obtains blocks of coal of medium size and when larger lumps or blocks are desired, I prefer to partially sever the coal to a greater extent than by the parallel cutting alone, by producing'thevcrtical cross cuts before the Wedges are brought into play. But it should be observed that even with the latter method the Wedges may be brought into action alternately so that the larger slabs or blocks of coal, partially severed not only by the parallel cuts,.but also by'the vertical cross cuts, are pried first in one direction and then in the other, in order to break the coal away at the cross cuts. Furthermore, it should be observed that if the Wedges are not in vertical alinemcnt, suliicient room will be left for some bending of the slab or block of coal when engaged by the Wedge to break the same at the desired point. It will be observed that the vertical positions of the wedges with respect to each. other may be predetermined initially by the construction of the apparatus used, and if desired,

any one of them may be changed 180 degrrees by removal of the spider and replacmg the same in proper position.

What I claim is:

1. The method of mining coalconsisting in cutting a plurality of slits in the wall or solid of the coal, and dislodging the coal lying between said slits by applying a wedging force in each of said slits While sa1d cutting action continues. 2. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of slits simultaneously in the Waller solid of the coal, and dislodging the coal between said slits by apply ng Wedging action therein while said cutting action continues.

3. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of slits simultaneously in the Wall or solid -of the coal at right angles to the face thereof, and dislodging the coal lying between said slits by Wedging action hile said cutting action continues.

4. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting continuously a plurality of slits simultaneously in the wall or solid 01 the coal, and during such cutting applying a dislodging force intermittently in the slits at an angle to the plane o'flthe cut.

The method oi? cutting coal consisting; in cutting a plurality of parallel cuts in the Wall or solid or the coal. thereafter making a series of cross cuts at the rear of the cuts first produced, and breaking loose the coal between said parallel cuts simultaneously with the cross cutting action.

6. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of kerfs in the wall or solid of the coal, and breaking loose the coal by Wedging action in said kcrfs While the cutting continues.

7. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of kcrfs in the Wall of the coal, making cross cuts at or near the inner ends of said kcrfs, and breaking loose the coal at or near said cross cuts by Wedging action in said kcrts.

8. The method of mining coal consisting 3 in cutting a plurality. of slits or kcrfs in.the Wall or solid ot' the coal and simultaneously breaking loose the coal by Wcdging action in said kerfs.

5). The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of parallel slits in the wall or solid of the coal, and simultaneously breaking loose the coal by Wedging action in said kcrfs.

10. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of parallel slits in the solid of the coal, cuts at or near the inner ends of said slits, and loosening the cut coal by wedging action in said parallel slits.

ll. The method of mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of parallel slits or kcrls in the wall or solid of the coal, making afterward making cross" cuts at or near the inner ends of said kerfs,,

and sulmtuntially at right angles to the planes of said kerfs, and applying dislodgring forces in the slits at angles to the planes olflthc cuts to break loose the coal at said right angle cuts. I i

12. The method of mining solids consisting in cutting a plurality of horizontal parallel slits or kc in the Wall of said solid, discontinuing said (hitting, afterward producing cross cuts at or near the inner ends of said kerls, and breaking loose the cut solid at or near said cross cuts by wedging action in said kerl's.

13. The method of mining SOlldS cons1stmg in cutting a plurality of parallel kerfs in the Wall of the solid, and intermittently discontinuing said-kart cutting and making cross cuts at or near the inner ends ofsaid kcr'fs and wedging the cut coal in the kerfs to break loose the same at said cross cuts.

M. The method of mining coal consisting in making a plurality of parallel kerfs in the Wall of the coal, afterward producin cross cuts at or near the inner ends of saic kerfs, and breaking loose the cut coal at said cross cuts by wedging action in said kerfs.

'15. The method (if-mining coal consisting in cutting a plurality of kcrt's in the body of the coal and dislodging the coal between said kcrfs and simultaneously with said kcrf cut in cutting and ciisledging eeei and mo if ihfi sameieward (me 5 else gimulteneousiy cu i coal, and during the 1% "emevmg vein 0:

it numng the same w KRLEGiltli wim disiedged 0021i,

16, ile meihed of mining eeei censist i V be the other i unciesirzibie met he method 1. J utiinfl and! disiedg me em]. and .1 misiy cutting vein. cf uncle b and intermittently breaking it away.

I 18 The method of mining in cutting a plurali'ey of pa slits in the bedy of the coal, preiiuc". cuts at or nezmthe inner ends cf Wedging the cut slabs from the bed oi? the eperetione cdnveying away a broken slab of 11nd. able material separately frem 'ihe rle coal.

19. The method of mining coal cone in. making a slit kerf in the body 0:: the

coal at O1 near the reef 0f the tunnel, also a} If kerf at or near the finer me iunnel, and

breaking away ihe ceai befiweeii saic i keyfs by 'Wedging. action therein 20, The method of mining c0211 consie'ning in making horizentai kerfs in the bedy of the coal mm at the F003: of the tunnel the other at the floor of the tunnel pro dueing one 01' moi e horizontal? slits in the "Jig Wedgiug force the interbreaking away all the coal be cut and. the i001- silt i mining cue-i, eeneist V ei penile exit-M v 11 of see then tween the row JL l1 1 biin 1e pantie 3 severe" to the d. i the sldeof said pertialiy severeci wee in the oppe 1e side 0f s ic i to beer on 01" (10:11 at an. cuts, first on 0' block in i then applying the oppw The n'iethed.

plum .,y of;

seam 3f eee men bringii e iime 121 the 1 1": "s 330 bum? en the piuvlaliy severee 121063.; e .;eai right zingies t0 the diieeti 0i the opposite e1 *ectien 0n the opposite side 0f -15 (5. block, zeby the ii 13 dlsioc! by rinitten'z time applied,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificetien, in the 'mesence 9f ilYVU subscribing witnesses, of January A, 1911,

V LED "UT- ii) MURG:

.iesses: 1L i Tc 

